The following computer-generated description may contain errors and does not represent the quality of the book:American Journal of Physical Anthropology Volume I January-March, 1918 Numbee 1 Preface The establishment of a new scientific journal is a matter for serious consideration, and doubly so at this critical period. The points that must be thoroughly weighed are, first, the need of the additional publication; second, the effects of its establishment on existing periodicals; and third, the special service it can render under actual conditions. The need of an American journal devoted exclusively to Physical Anthropology has been felt for many years. The United States is the only one of the larger civilized countries that as yet has no periodical devoted to this branch of science. Even Portugal and Switzerland now have such journals. The progress of Physical Anthropology in this country, and the unequaled richness and importance of the problems with which this branch of science is here confronted, makes the establishment of a Journal that will properly represent this branch very desirable. As it is we have in America no reviews of somatological literature; no bibliography; no way of keeping contact, except individually, with anthropological activities and problems in other countries; and very limited means of showing what we are doing in the way of research, exploration, collection, and instruction. We need the Journal to supplement the activities of and to serve as the mouthpiece of the Committee on Anthropology of the National Research Council. As it is, there is no way of making the recommendations of the Committee more generally known and understood. Moreover, we are now engaged in a tremendous world struggle which involves and is developing many problems in the solution or the regulation of which Physical Anthropology may be of assistance, and this can be done most effectively with the aid of a proper periodical.